On
to Fremont Indian State park. and October adventures.
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So on Sunday we should be at
Fremont Indian State park.
Will want to take some or all
of the Kimberly/Big
John Rd Scenic Backway.
May drive part way down from
our Fremont campsite and then part way back up from the Beaver
side as I don't think we will
try to pull a big 5er on this backway.
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After Fremont for a few days
if the fishing is any good, plans are to go to Beaver, UT. and back into
the Fish Lake Forest and camp
along Route 153 at a FS camp
site or in the dispersed camping
areas listed on the FS web site.
(camping areas link not available
when I checked... it should come back up)
Late Friday night....
The news shows a Hurricane moving toward Baja peninsula.
Extended forecasts expected
a weakened Otis to bring rain to parts of the southwestern United States
by early next week.
We shall have to see how that
affects our travels.
Just got an email from DirecTV.
They are adding 67 channels of XM radio to their lineup and replaceing
their current music channels.
This will work good boondocking
in Quartzsite. Will only need to have the DirecTV box on and will retransmit
it into my FM radio.
Having only the DirecTV box
on will use less power then the internet sat rec and trans boxes and the
desktop computer all powered up for streaming audio. And I almost went
out and bought XM radio. But I haven't yet because either XM or Sirius
did not offer PBS "The Morning Report or "All Things Considered"
But still will not get those programs but will get most others for free
with my DirecTV account.
Saturday Oct. 1
We have have landed at Fremont
State park campground (it is really FS Castle Rock Campground) confused
so are we. The signs are all wrong on the roads as to where to turn to
find the campground. But now that we are here it is quite nice tucked away
in a gorge, and Terry just returned form a scouting trip to see if Clear
creek was a fishing destination and he sez YES. Great warmer conditions
and fishing to boot 6085 feet as compared to 8803 last night. He's happy
and I'm happy. Bats are fully charged and it is Sat night and did I say
we stopped in Richfield at the state liquor store. Going to relax and see
if HBO has anything on good tonight. Terry is out taking pics soooo later
for them.
Sunday Oct 2.
Thought we would go to town
and get the Sunday paper... So off to Marysvale (see above map). Coming
down US89 for I70 toward Marysvale found lots of boondocking sites right
on the river. Will check them out for later stays. Anyway when we got to
Marysvale I thought why don't we go back via the Kimberly/Big John Scenic
Backway better known as the Paiute ATV Trail to Castle Rock campground
where the 5er is parked. SO we did, and what a fun backway. I would never
take a car on this route a but a PU is OK. Most of the road is NOT as good
as the section in the pic by a long shot. We went over two passes on the
ride. Had to squeez under fallen trees. Some of the road was not much wider
than the truck, with hair pin turns, and sharp drop offs, thousands of
feet straight down. But a great Sunday drive!
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We had
to drive down from up there. I was standing on a bolder with a palque in
honer of a longtime FS person.
Terry is back from fishing
where he lost serveral flys and tangled lures. A few strikes but no catches
today.
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Time for Terry to tie
more flies
Tonight fried chicken, mashed
potatoes and peas and maybe a campfire as the weather is just the best.
There are only a couple of
others in this 30 site campgropund. Oh and by the way diesel in Richfiled
was $3.07
He will try his luck over on
US 89 on the Sevier river. If it is good we will move over to it in a day
or two.
There is boondocking all along
it. It runs from the town of Sevier to Marysvale. (see the bigger map above)
Monday Oct. 3
We left Castle Rock and headed
just a short drive over to US 89 south and have landed at a boondocking
site along the Sevier river
between Sevier and Big Rock
Candy Mtn. lots of great free camp sites alone this streach. We just LOVE
free boondocking sites.
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It is still a little windy
now but later Terry is going to try the old fly fishing thing again.
You can see the river right
behind the back of the 5er.
On the other side of the river
was an old railroad bed that they converted to a paved bike path.
No cel service here so sent
an email to my mail forwarding service myhomeaddressinc
to make a mail drop in Beaver, UT.
We paln on staying here thru
Thursday as that is when Terry's fishing lic runs out. Then off to Beaver
to pick up mail. And explore route 153.
No we are not going
to go south on 89 and west on 153. Not that dumb... with a big 5er. Will
go back up to I 70 and over to I 15 and dwon to Beaver.
(see avove maps) Beaver Canyon
Scenic Byway. FS sez there is dispersed camping (boondocking) on that road
and river.
We shall see and report what
we find.
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Tues. October 4th through
Thurs. October 6th
(Terry Reporting)
Camped on the Banks of the
Siever river, Siever County Ut. . We have a very nice boon
docking site a couple of miles north of the county line, but the weather
has not been very cooperative. Every night has been below freezing,
and the trailer does get cold at night when we try and conserve the batteries
by not running the furnace.
Had Rain, snow and ice
pellets on Wednesday, none of the snow or ice stuck, the ground is still
to warm for that. With bad weather and needing a break we decided
on a late morning outing for breakfast at Big
Rock Candy Mtn Resort just down the road. Had a great
breakfast, watched the bad weather out the window, and the few people inside
the restaurant. It surprised us to see the group of motorcyclists
out in such weather, but they were all bundled up in rain and thermal gear
and appeared to be having a good time. If you ever get to the area DO STOP
at this resort for food. And the prices were not out of line. I had the
best omelet I have ever eaten there. (Ron)
Tried to fish in the Siever
river with only a little luck, the stream is supposed to be an “undiscovered
“ jewel, with a “large population of brown trout. I had no luck in
finding them, caught only on smallish trout. The river runs
very fast, and very cloudy, I think the writer for the state was
doing their best at exaggerating the resource. Undiscovered my behind,
if the fishing was good the fly fisherman would have been there.
Moved to Beaver Ut on Thursday,
to pick up mail, camp and explore. I have nothing good to say about
the town of Beaver. It’s a rip off. They bill them selves as
the little town half way between Salt Lake city and Las Vegas that’s been
overlooked, and with good reason. Pulled into the Service station
for Diesel fuel and the price was outrageous,
Over $3.30 per gallon at one
station, but we got it for $3.14 as they were changing the signs to $3.16
and Propane was $3.00 per gallon, cost us $21.00 to fill one propane tank.
By way of comparison our previous fill in Richfield propane was $1.69 and
diesel fuel was $3.09. Had plenty of groceries so we did not check
out the small mom and pop grocery in town.
Intended to go to Little Cottonwood
campground, but were told it had been closed early when the supervising
ranger went on vacation and the contractor running the campground saw an
opportunity to cut losses and close.
But if you are in the area
at other times it looked like a great place to camp large sites all paved
for $12 as we took a hike and crossed the locked gate to have a look.
With option one out we saw
on the map a Minersville State park to the SW of town and decided it would
be our best be, WE Were Wrong. What is shown in our DeLorm
Atlas is no longer a state park but has been foisted off on the county,
which would not have been a bad thing, but there are no suitable sites
there for a trailer. We stopped to dump and fill with water and paid
the daily use fee of $3 for the use. They wanted $17 to camp and with just
aparking lot for big rigs, all others we for a car and tent. Of cource
it was empty.
While pondering our options
at Minersville a local sheriffs deputy drove through on patrol. We
flagged the deputy down to enquire about any other options for camping
and he was very surprised that Cottonwood had been closed down, and suggested
we go back that way and try Cottonwood. If we were unable to get
in there he suggested boon docking in the canyon and told us it would
be all right to camp in the cleared area next to the Beaver power plant
no 1.
Settled in to boodock, had a
bit of lunch and went exploring. Drove UT153 up through the
canyon. Through most of its length the canyon is very narrow.
Saw only two sites suitable for boondocking with a trailer or motor home.
The campgrounds above Cottonwood were except for Mahogany unreachable due
to road work, and Mahogany is an old style forest service campground,
great for tents and pickups but tightly laid out with lots of brush.
Except for the first site could not get a fiver into the place, and site
number one would require backing in from the road.
Above Mahogany the road ascends
very rapidly and you get some spectacular views of the valley, and with
the aspens in full fall colors a very scenic drive.
Friday, October 8th
It got cold again last night
and the sun did not hit the canyon floor for a very long time. Arose
late and went in to town to check to see if our mail drop had arrived and
it did, thankfully. Packed the trailer and hit the road, destination
Cedar City and beyond to Baker Dam reservoir, a BLM Campground NW
of ST George UT.
Arrived in Cedar City with out
incident, and went looking for a grocery store, and found the local
Albertsons where we picked up a few items for the next few days.
Stopped at the local farm supply store looking for a new zippered sweatshirt,
but had no luck, the only one that they had with the warm velour
liner was a 5xl unless you could settle for blaze orange. Needless
to say I am still looking.
Arrived at Baker Dam Reservoir
late in the afternoon and after driving the campground I trying to find
a suitable (perfect) site, fell into a trap of our won making.
We’ve done this before, gotten to our planned campground and decided there
is a bigger, better, much more wonderful site just up the road, and
driven on rather then settle on something that should have been perfectly
acceptable.
Left Baker dam and went on to
Gunlock State Park and our odyssey began. At the Town of Veyo we
encountered Gravel hauling Semi tractor trailer rigs. They were in
the process of moving an entire hillside worth of boulders into the valley
to rip rap the Santa Clara river to repair flood damage. At several
points along the way we encountered road damage, and work in progress,
including a temporary bridge we were barely able to negotiate.
When we reached the town of Gunlock we found that the county was closing
the road, luckily they let us through, as we would have been unable to
traverse the temporary bridge back up the valley without doing damage to
the truck and trailer.
Since they were closing the
road we were unable to safely stay at Gunlock so we found ourselves
with out a plan at 6:00pm on a Friday afternoon from the map we saw
there was another Campground not far from the town of Irvins, UT.
Snow Canyon State Park, which was full when we got there. The very
very very helpful gate person volunteered a map of the local campgrounds
and we were off again.
We settled on the BLM
campground Cedar
Pockets (Virgin River Gorge) off of I15 about 18 miles inside the Arizona
State Line. Cot to Cedar Pockets about 7:00pm set up , got a little
drinking water and were treated to a very beautiful sunset and peaceful
evening. After the days comedy of errors we intend to stay here and
recover here through the weekend.
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Saturday Oct. 8
Listening to NPR streaming
with "Prairie Home Companion" hosted by Garrison Kealer.
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This shot is down by the river
we are camped 200 or so ft higher overlooking it.
Oh and by the way this campground
(Cedar Pockers -- Virgin River) is one of the top 10 I have ever stopped
at for the view. (Ron reporting)
Sunday Oct. 9
Went into Beaver Dam just a
few miles south on I 15 to get a Sunday paper and will relax back in camp
today.
Tuesday Oct. 11
We started looking around on
the ABOVE map and saw Tuweep ( which you might remember from our front
page the story about the scariest story while camping happened there. So
we thought why not since we are soooo close (as George would say) go for
a visit. Well you might ask how far is it? The Mt.Trumbull road is 95 miles
of back road madness, but WE have a 1 ton dully diesel what can stop us?
So off we head at 8 am and get gas and fast food breakfast in St. George
at Flying J (first fast food of the trip) and head on down the road. Got
fuel at $3.14 later saw it for $3.22 and above. But that was just the major
brands ripen us off.
So 3 1/2 hours later we got
to Tuweep and as we remembered the last 10 miles are the worst. But that
is how it has been decieded. To keep it off the beaten path for most people.
No road improvments ever. Only the fool hardy would tackle this adventure.
Shoud you try to take a car... NO. We met a Cadilack with California
plates and part of his under side was dragging. He didn't seem to care
when we pointed this out to him. I had been here twice before and was impressed
that I found it to be more spectaular than in the past. This has to one
of the best spots in the world. I remember the first time I was here we
said... Scotty beam us up... We have see the best this planet has to offer!
Now for some web links. Tuweep
Wilderness DesertUSA Grand
Canyon Nation Park... Tuweep info.
Tuweep,
Grand Canyon National Park with many
great pics and info.
I don't want to use up bandwidth
with pics so just a couple of ours and use the above links for great information
and pics of the area.
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The last few miles are kind
of rough and narrow.
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Terry and Lava Falls over his
shoulder.
Many years ago I had the opportunity
to raft through the Canyon and now several times have
been able to look down and
remember the thrill of it all.
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This is my special shot of
the place we once camped and had the story of the scariest
camping night. (scroll down)
You can't camp here anymore.
Now just a picnic spot right next to the edge and 3000 feet straight down.
When we got back we had gone
about 220 miles and the gas gauge was still right at 3/4 full.
Think the truck likes going
about 30-40 miles an hour on the flat dirt roads. And idle speed on the
bad sections.
But who cares... IT was a great
day.. and well worth it. We were here, it was now, and it was time to do
it!
Now it is time for a shower....
OH yes... Take care....
Map where we are heading later
this week week... Might be Wed. or Thurs.
Want to get there before the
weekend crowd if there is one..
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We plan to head to Goverment
Wash (right in the center of the pic) 14 day boondocking site.
Close to a Camping World. (See
the push pin south of Henderson) Now if I can just look and not buy.
Do need a new battery operated
fan inside the fridge. Helps to circulate the air and keep things colder.
Wednesday Oct. 13
Left Virgin River Rec Area.
A sign in the campground said free dumping at the 76 station in Mesquite
on I 15.
As our kitchen gray tank was
running out the overflow, we were looking forward to this dump. The 76
tation said they stopped doing that and sent us off to an RV and park model
resort down the road. That place said no dump fac there, like the gas station
led us to believe. So stopped for supplies and the people in the food market
told us to go to one of the casino's rv parks. So off we go again and by
this time we were fed up with trying to find a dump station and it was
clear this casino rv park also didn't have one except for the connection
at each site. And no onsite campground host. Sign said to go inside the
casino. So we pulled into a pull through and dumped and drove out. After
that was done went over to the Virgin River Casino for their buffet. Which
was great. Do stop at this one, it had fresh pizza, to order Chinese, large
selection of Mexican, to order pasta dishes, along with the expected fare,
for $6.95 including drink. Remember that's in Mesquite.
So now full, dump done and
fresh gas and groceries off we go again. Diesel in Mesquite was $3.21.
Did see it later for $3.19 Ouch!
We have landed at Government
Wash mid afternoon on Wed. and are settling in for a few days.
(see the map above) We found
a site high on a point that overlooks the area.
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Views from our boondocking
site.
The small airplans and helicopters
are constant from Las Vegas heading for sightseeing the Grand Canyon.
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Thursday
Oct. 13
It is a great day and will
relax and start a new book.
Terry is rolling out bread
which he is going to bake in the duch oven.
But first he is cleaning out
the fire ring of broken beer bottles and junk left by others. He already
has three big garbage bags full.
This place is way to beautiful
to be trashed by litter. This point has had its share of young adult parties.
The next time they come it
will at least be clean when they arrive. And did I mention it is free to
stay here. Mark this one down on your Streets and Trips.
Friday Oct. 14
Went over and took the tour
of Hoover Dam. Pulled into the $7 parking ramp and when they looked in
the back we were told we couldn't park there as we had a small plastic
gas can that we were going to fil up for the generator. So we were directed
to another location to park which was just as good as it was free. The
$11 tour consisted of a ten minute slide show and then down 500 feet to
the generator observation deck for a five min look. So if you don't need
to see the generators save your $11. Here is the Bureau
of Reclamation link for everything you might want to know about the
dam. It was then off to Henderson to Camping World for frig fan, step stool,
and lawn chair. Got diesel for $3.05 at Circle K. Most of the other big
name staions wanted at least $3.25. On back to camp and steak supper and
watched Real Time with Bill Mahr.
Saturday Oct. 15
Just a lazy day in the campground
reading and Terry backed rolls. Not in the dutch oven as it has been windy
today. Might even rain on Sunday.
Was planning to listen to Garrison
Keeler and Prairie Home Companion but it was a repeat and beggars day for
public radio so skipped it. Back to my book.
Sunday Oct. 16
We went into town to get a
Sunday paper and take in a buffet. Since we were there and the traffic
look light we went on over and drove the strip. WOW much longer then I
thought it would be. Links to view the strip Las
Vegas 360 Virtual
Las Vegas Strip! It got hot with the 5 er all closed up when we got
back and didn't really cool down much. It stayed warm and was hard to sleep.
Monday Terry took our
laundry in and did it and it was a little cooler and it sprinkled a few
times.
Tuesday Oct. 18
What a day makes... It has
been raining heavy and many roads around the valley are flooding and cool
temps. We are sitting tight on top of a bluff and doing just fine. Our
water tank sez 2/3 fresh and gray kit is 1/3 and bath gray is 1/3... black
sez full but that is normal under all conditions. We have been here for
week as of tomorrow. So that is not bad. We did cheat a little, we have
filled our 5 gal portable container twice with filtered water from town.
Our biggest user was the kit gray so we got a plastic dish tub and have
been dumping the dish water in the fire pit or back tank.
We have a visitor. A friendly
road runner. He likes to look at himself in our mirrored windows. He Jumps
up and perches on the bikes on the back of the 5er and admires himself
in our back window. He has returned several times. I'm starting to
call him "Terry the Road Runner".
He likes to admier hemself
in the mirror too. ( Note: Terry has not learned how to use FTP yet to
change this yet.
I'll be in trouble... but it
is a rainy day, so who cares!
Every day is a great day, rain
or shine in the Vegas (Lake Mead Rec. Area.) or anywhere fulltiming. Just
think, I could be back in Des Moines sitting in my old cubical living the
corporate rat race. Thinking how so soon it will be cold and snow,
did I say cold and snow... STOP... kick me and let's ge back to now. Right
here in the Vegas area of.. What happens here... Stays here! Lifestyle.
They can stay inside and gamble
and we will can stay out here on the lake and boondock. Sounds fair to
us.
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When he jumps on top of the
5er and perches on the fantastic fan that is the limit. No pecking on our
rubber roof!
A break in the rain and brighter
outside but local NPR is reporting many streets and roads closed in the
Vegas area.
Wednesday Oct. 19
Ya just can't keep us out of
Vegas... so off again today.. we went to find a Red Wing Shoe Store. Of
course Terry looked them up on the web and even printed out a map... Well
we got there and it was closed and the locals looked up another one for
us. Then this one didn't have what he wanted. So that was a waste of time.
I had seen the add in the paper for a Fry's
Electronic Super Store (I just knew you wanted the link) on the
south end of the strip so we were in the area and just had to stop. Terry
drags me to Cabela's so I thought a Fry's would be in order. WOW...
an electronic candy store. But only bought a new mouse. The little plastic
slider pads on the bottem kept falling off on the old one. Hope I got a
better one this time. Logitech ought to be good. Saw a video/audio receiver
that I liked but wanted to come back and make sure it would fit in the
cab in the 5er first. May have to mail order it later. And since we are
on solar and gen power how much would I use it anyway this winter. We stopped
for food supplies and went to a Panda chinese fast food restaurant for
late lunch. Not bad but a little pricy compared to what they want for a
buffet in the area. Guess we are getting kind of picky for prices for eating
out. Never do it much and now that we have found the Mecca for cheap buffet
food (Las Vegas) want fast food to be lower priced also. Get a life RIGHT...
I dought food on the main strip is low cost anymore but out where the locals
eat and gamble it still seams to be a good deal.
Thinking about heading on down
to Laughlin, NV Thursday or Friday. Talked to a couple who are also
boondocked here and they gave us hints on where to boondock and free dump
station in the area. We had researched on the net and forums and had a
clue also... so should be a good stopover on the way to Quartzsite.
Oh and we might jsut tell ya'll what we find. Reg unleaded gas is down
to $2.65 and diesel is still at $3.05 today. One thing I never planned
on was how easy it is to get around in the Vegas area. We will be back....
Boondocking with GREAT views at lake Mead for FREE and within 15 miles
of Henderson and just a little more to all the action down on the strip.
Thought I wouldn't like it but it grows on YA and I have not dropped ANY
money in any old machine Yet... But I think it may happen in Laughlin...
I have all the other vices covered and gambling is one last holdout. So
at this time not worried about having to call 1-800 BETS OFF help line!
Oh one last thing RAIN... Vegas
had more rain yesterday then they have had in several years. And we were
here to see it. Nice today...
Thursday
Oct. 20
We have have landed on laughlin,
NV. The drive down from lake Mead thruogh Bolder City and on down US95
was through heavy smog.

And found the RV parking lot
overlooking the strip on the south end. (See the side of the 5 er in the
pic and yes that is the Colorado river down there) It is free for 7 days
and can be renewed for more if you use the players card at the River Palms
Casino. (The one in the pic) They own this land and you have to go in and
sign up with your vehicle lic and Ins. papers and they give you a Players
Card and a pass to put in your window good for 7 days. It is nice way up
high with great views. They have a shuttle bus back and forth also. The
free RV spots behind the Ramada Express casino were very crowded. But it
didn't look like you had to register to stay and they had a free dump station.
Doesn't mean we can't go use it when leaving here.
Well looks like the buffet
signs have hit there mark again. Going to hold off making Pizza for another
day and hit the Ramada dinner buffet. Then I think tomorrow it will be
rest and relax! This taken it easy all the time is getting to be hard work.
It was all of 90 miles down here today. Oh and now that I have a players
card from River Palms may have to gamble to rack up some points!
Sign inside sez breakfast $1.22 with 10 players points in the last 24 hrs.
Need to investigate how this point thing works. So off to the River
Palms web site to lean all about it. Nothing on their site on how the
points work... so I called them... For every $2-3 cycled through the slot
machine you get 1 point.
Saturday Oct. 22
Went for a drive today south
of Bullhead City to State Highway 153 and went east up to historic Oatman,
AZ on the Old Route 66.
Laughlin,-
Chloride - Route 66 - Oatman Road Trip Oatman
Chamber of Commerce <-Map to the area on both sites
Nice drive back in time. Couldn't
believe Route 66 was ever that hilly and remote. I hadn't heard about this
place but, navigator Terry had read about it on the web and suggested we
head out to explore the area. What a good choice for an outing and drive.
Now back on our bluff RV spot
overlooking the strip again and listening to Garrison Keillor and A Prairie
Home Campanion.
on NPR and having a margarita.
The weather is just constantly great. Sunny and a little warm for
me but the nights cool down and we can leave all the 5 ers windows open
for great sleeping.
By the way diesel was $2.99
at Circle K's in Bullhead. Other stations are still wanting $3.25 or more
so Circle K will continue to get our money. They didn't advertise with
the price on the sign but just on the pump and got propane at Bullhead
Pipe and Supply on 95 south at the Bullhead city limits for about $14 for
a 40 lb tank. Asked at an RV service center for where to go.
A Prairie Home Campanion is
just getting over and this is the view out the 5er windows as I sit at
the computer.
Sunday Oct. 23
Later Saturday night, after
a couple of margaritas we decided it was time to head on down to the River
Palms and try out the Players card.
It didn't take long to find
dropping money in the slots could be kind of fun. And 483 points later,
my players card confirmed, I was having fun.
Started off on the quarter
machines... none of that 1 or 5 cent stuff, and moved up to the $1 slots
in fast order and playing 3 bets at a time. It's only money right. Was
up some and down some. These machines know just how to keep a person interested
and in play. The person right next to me hit a $1500 jackpot. That was
encouraging, so stayed with my $3 bets till it took all my winnings. By
that time is was off to the 10 pm to 6 am breakfast buffet for $3.99. And
good it was! And as you can guess we slept in very late today. Got
a Sunday paper and later started a John Grisham novel. It has been a very
mellow day. Have not even turned on TV.
They want you go through 500
points in a week to be able to staty in the RV parking area... so we have
bought into their marketing plan and should be welcomed guests. I got almost
that many points in one night.
Tonight we had a hot dog and
pork and beans. Got to save room for those buffets.
Monday Oct.24
Mondays can be ruff on fulltimers
too. I mean it IS Monday after all and we are expected to get up and act
like we have something important to do like everyone else aren't we? Naw...
lay in bed and listen to NPR Good Morning, get up for some toast, read
the paper and settle in to do serious damage on the Grisham novel. Success...
got it all read by late afternoon. No it is time to surf, update the site,
take a shower, forbid shave, and maybe, just maybe (since there is nothing
on TV tonight) wonder on down to the casino. (Well if you must, you could
watch a little FOOTBALL). We'll just play it by ear and see what happens.
You All have a great evening.
Tuesday Oct. 25
We went down to play the slots
and WOW are you ready for this. They
WON...
we LOST. I put in a $50 and several
and I mean several $20s and it was all taken without much playing us along.
Guess they were greedy last night. But we did stay till they opened up
the late night buffet for $3.99 so we did get something. Wednesday
we just laid low and and read books.
Thursday Oct. 27
We woke up and decided the
HitchItch bug and gotten to us and it was time to move on. We had been
parked at the River Palms RV lot for a full 7 days. and our tanks were
still not full but getting there so we were ready to head on out. A week
boondocking and still had fresh and the gray and black tanks were not full
so we thought we have been doing good with our usage. We stopped at Home
Depot in Lake Havashu City for a couple a boards for Terry's rock work
bench and I got a couple of plants that I can burn up in the desert. I
got a hibiscus and a gardenia. Thought about a tomato plant as it
said (50 days) but didn't. Now that we have landed terry has repotted them
and added a little miracle grow. Thought about stopping at the BLM lands
just north of Lake Havashu City but wanted to splurge and go the the La
Paz County Park further south ($16 a day or $95 a week with E/W) and
hoop up to electric and run the air and relax for the weekend in the county
park right on the Colorado River before we head to the desert and boondock
it for the winter.
I also needed to get to Parker
and pick up my mail before they send it back. Meds were sent there so don't
want to miss them. The Air is now running and it is starting to get
cool in here. WOW this is going to be nice. We didn't need gas today but
did notice prices were coming down even some of the big name stations were
down to $3.05 for diesel and Reg was about $2.55. We dumped our holding
tanks at he gas station across from Harrah's casino and paid $5. Their
RV parking rules were that all you have to do is get their Players card
and you can stay for 3 days. and then just go and g et it renewed. AND
you do not have to gamble or rack up any points. We could have gone back
down to Ramada's in Laughlin and dumped for free but this was closer and
on the way out of town. If staying along the strip in Laughlin and then
heading south on 95 no need to cross over right there and drive through
all the traffic in Bullhead City. Just go south on the strip road and you
can cross over the river further south at the AVI Indian casino.
Friday Oct. 28
Went into Parker, AZ to get
my General Delivery US Mail. It was prescriptions and will run out in a
week, so was very relieved when the clerk brought it out from in back.
Got cash at the bank and diesel was $2.85. Under that three dollar high
water mark. And I am sure you saw the news about the billions of dollars
in PROFITS the oil companies made last quarter! It's nice to watch our
six AGM batteries charge up and peak with onsite AC hookups charging them
up. The last 10% of charge takes hours and would take to much the time
using a generator. On Saturdays they have a swap meet in the park. Vender
can come in and set up for $20.
If all you need is water there
are thirty sites right on the beach. (see below) The locals must love this
place in the summer.
This park is huge and all run
by the county. The sites are RV park style (close together) but that is
the way of RV parks. So if you want to take a break from boondocking and
leave the vast open areas, then this is what you get. But you do get long
showers, if you want (as you can dump when you leave) and cool air conditioning
and all the POWER for your many toys you have been turning off before you
were through playing with them. Just Kidding. I like it quiet at times,
just reading and no TV, but a movie fix is not bad every so often.
Soon we will grow tried of all this, and want to get back out where we
are free and it is free. Do check out the La
Paz county park web site.
Also the RV group WIN
is
group RVing in the park. They are Wandering
Individuals Network, Inc. Looks like they have lots of gatherings all
over the country. So another fun evening fulltiming it.
Just sent Terry up the beach
to the floating bar to see what their food special was for tonight. Hoping
for Friday night fish fry. The campground host was pushing the place when
he showed us to our site yesterday. The place is called the Roadrunner.
A Fish Fry basket at its best
is what we found... $4.00 (can you believe that price) and $1.50 beers.
Two kinds of fish in two kinds of batter. (one fish type was done in hush
puppy type batter) The fries, old world crispy, not your fast food junk.
The floating bar was not fancy and don't sit on the tables on the edge
as no railings and one false move and you will be in the river. I don't
know who insures them but I don't care as the fish basket was great. What
could be better then that.The best fish and fries we have had in a long
time. We had some good ones in Port Isabel in south TX next to South Padre
Island. This was better. No malt vinegar was offered, that we saw, and
we didn't miss it. This was what tarter sauce was made for. Saturday night
special is ribs ($8) and the Sunday special was listed as prime rib ($9)...
how they serve that in a basket we may want to find out. I felt like we
were in the the keys in a dive bar and it felt great. Boats could pull
up, jump out and order. And they did. Remember when here, get on down to
the Roadrunner on old route 95 just a block up from the county park. One
of these days we have to start eating our of our fridge, as food is backing
up that we have stored, but with the great eateries we keep running into,
what is a body to do. We in the past very seldom ate out, but in the last
few days, with buffets and other offerings we have been tempted as never
before. Our thought is that we will have plenty of time to eat off
our own stocks when boondocking for the rest of the winter in a few days
in Q.
But there will come a time
even in Q that we will crave a Pizza from Silly Als or lunch at
Sweet
Darlene's Restaurant/Bakery.
As you can see I'm ramping
my mind up for the Quartzsite BLM adventure that is yet to come! The idea
of finding our perfect camp spot in the vast BLM grounds among thousands
of like minded RVers. You know you have done it, even in regular
campgrounds, circle around looking for that perfect spot that trips
your trigger as this is the one. But unlike all the main stream
campgrounds, in Q you have all the room in the world to find whatever trips
yours. Yes... we do have a sopt (we hope) is not taken that we saw last
year as our (trips your trigger spot.) We shall see. But not to rush, as
we my find a BETTER one if that area is taken. Just have to keep looking...
The art of finding the perfect spot! A fulltimers, fulltime job, to find
the perfect boondocking spot. Hard job but somebody has to do it. Pay is
low, satisfaction is out of this world! Now to stop rambling, and go to
bed and dream of the perfect campsite. Wait may be a good movie
on for late night viewing since we have power to spare. LATER... Smile...
Boy the fish basket was good... Time to pop a beer and get off the net
for tonight... Hand me the TV remote!
Saturday Oct. 29
Went for a ride and thought
we would check out the other side of the Colorado river north of the dam
but our PU with dully back wheels was to wide for the dam barricades. But
later we did go back to the Roadrunner for their $8 Rib dinner. Well once
again GREAT large rack of pork ribs with a huge California type cole slaw
and side of kicked up pork and beans.
Sunday 0ct. 30
Like always it is Sunday paper
time. We love a good Sunday paper. After lunch went for trip back up to
Lake Havashu City to look for Terry's Red Wing shoes again. No luck, didn't
have what he wanted. Went next door to Safeway for a few items and I asked
the Pharmacist if they were still doing flu shots and he siad YES right
now in the office behind the Dehi. WOW we went over and
got ours. We are soo happy to have lucked out that they were doing shots
when we were there on a Sunday. I had checked the web and it was looking
real slim that we were going to be able to find any this year. Nexted stopped
at Wal-Mart and got a couple of Tiki patio torches. They will look nice
flickering in the campsite on the BLM site. (We had tried on our way through
a on Friday to find them a Home Depot, but no luck) We try to not shop
Wal-Mart when we can. We won't have to worry about that in Quartzsite or
Blythe, CA for several months to come.
17k
Terry with the Tiki Torches
and the hibiscus plant. (doesn't he look thrilled, I said get out there
we need a pic for the site) (he looked better at 1.5 M pic size before
I reduced it to 17 K for the web) Now back to the plant, it's the
one on the right... Stay tuned to see how soon I can kill it or watch it
bloom with red flowers. It has several buds which I hope don't fall
off right away. Oh no... there is already a brown
leaf near the bottom. It was repotted and now needs to some Miracle Grow
and fast! (we bought a generic plastic jar of it)
Everyone have a nice Monday
as we will be moving into our winter BLM site and getting set up.
Will be looking for that perfect
campsite that trips your trigger. Pics
of the perfect campsite we stake our claim to, online soon.
Shutting
down for now... Desperate Housewives just started. So I'm sick like
all America. Stop me, I'm watching TV, later back to the book I started.
Terry just informed me it was a repeat... How do they do that the season
just started... |
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